Knee condition ends UGA lineman Owens’ career
ATHENS – Georgia backup offensive lineman Jonathan Owens‘ college football career is over.
Owens has been granted a medical disqualification because of a knee condition, UGA coach Mark Richt said today. The disqualification means Owens no longer will be able to participate in intercollegiate athletics.
A redshirt sophomore from Blountsville, Ala., Owens appeared in one game for Georgia — that against Tennessee Tech last season.
He suffers from chronic patella instability in his right knee, according to UGA director of sports medicine Ron Courson. UGA said it was determined after consultation with physicians that Owens could not continue his playing career.
Owens is scheduled for patella re-alignment surgery on Aug. 31.
“It’s always difficult when a player must give up the game,” Richt said in a statement. “Jonathan is an outstanding young man, and we look forward to him still being involved in our program.”
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104 comments Add your comment
TXDawg (The Real TXDawg)
August 25th, 2010
8:11 pm
Sorry to hear the bad news, but hey, where one door closes another one opens.
Guess, we’ll be reading about another walk-on being granted a scholarship.
Paul in RDU
August 25th, 2010
8:15 pm
Speaking as a GT grad – YF – grow up or get lost (and take your buddy Yellow Fuzz with you)
ryan
August 25th, 2010
8:22 pm
I give everyone an A+ for showing compassion and dignity except for a few bad apples on here good luck Mr . Owens i hope you get better soon .
Tech Fan Here
August 25th, 2010
8:22 pm
Hate to hear news like this… good luck young man, here is hoping your future is bright.
LCDawg
August 25th, 2010
8:29 pm
Thanks for the effort Owens. Good luck in the future! GATA
NRBQ
August 25th, 2010
8:32 pm
Paul in RDU:
If there’s one major college coach in the country who’s proven that he stands behind his players for life, it’s CMR.
He’s famous among us Dawg fans for awarding scholarships to deserving walk-on’s, as well as helping guys arrange for transfers, etc.
He may wear his faith on his sleeve a little to much for some out there, but he 100% backs it up with the way he lives life and treats people.
Mel
August 25th, 2010
8:33 pm
Glory Glory, I’m a die hard Tech fan and can safely so that no true Tech fan would wish an injury on a student athlete – EVER. No decent human being or football fan with any shred of sportsmanship would. I hate hearing news like this for any athlete. Here’s wishing him a speedy recovery.
Camden Mark
August 25th, 2010
8:34 pm
Good post Tokyo. You just hit a fork in the road young man, finish school, work hard and see where it takes you.
LHardingDawg
August 25th, 2010
8:41 pm
Great guy, great attitude, good luck in the future. Good things happen to good people, so I’m sure you will be fine.
Ben There
August 25th, 2010
9:03 pm
Jonathan,if you care to do it, you can be a great coach. Kids need people like you. You’ve been through it all. Good luck son. We’ll aways be pulling for you. Your a DGD!
I never post
August 25th, 2010
9:04 pm
I’m a Tech alum, die-hard fan, and I read as much of the college football articles/blogs as I can fit in my schedule. I’m typically disappointed in the BS that ends up clogging up these “comments”. I was feeling really good about the responses to this article until I read a couple truly tasteless entries. There should be a way for us to collectively vote-out remarks that are not welcome in our little community here. Maybe if the commenters weren’t getting the attention they seek, they wouldn’t waste their time.
My least favorite part of this sport is the injuries, and if you don’t feel for this guy you’re a jerk.
As a SOUTHERNER
August 25th, 2010
9:18 pm
and a GT alum, I also send love and well wishes to this young man. Follow your next dream with as much drive and ambition as you have with football and you will go far.
Hit the books and be a damn good dawg by getting that degree… godspeed
Golden Rules!
August 25th, 2010
9:18 pm
Glory Glory…you are disgrace enough.
ole leather-head
August 25th, 2010
9:22 pm
In the end the fumbles you make are equal to the fumbles you take….
DAWG 1
August 25th, 2010
9:24 pm
If I am not mistaken, schools have an insurance policy that will take over his school expenses and the scholarship will be freed up and can be used as part of the 85.
This may be the most civil blog ever between Tech and UGA fans and it sure is nice not to have to read all the crap from the “immature, never been to college or either failed to learn types”!
rainbow
August 25th, 2010
9:28 pm
Nice to see the love for your fellow man by the jackets and bulldogs on this blog gives me hope that gays will be accepted in the huddle asap as well….
Paul in RDU
August 25th, 2010
9:30 pm
NRBQ – I like CMR as a coach and a person. My point had to do not about whether he wanted to give Owens a scholarship but whether he could (NCAA rules and all that)
PTC DAWG
August 25th, 2010
9:38 pm
So it takes something like for the decent GT fans to come out…well, thanks.
Mom
August 25th, 2010
9:44 pm
Thank all of you for your kind comments regarding my son, Jonathan. This is truly heartbreaking for him, yet when given the choice of playing and risking further damage to his knee or rehabbing enough to go through life walking, he chose the latter. He will retain his scholarship and continue his studies at UGA throughout his period of eligibility, which is this year and 2 additional years. He will undergo surgery Tuesday with a rehab period of 6 mths to a year. We appreciate Coach Richt and his coaching staff and sports medicine staff at UGA for the support of athletes like Jonathan,
Bo in North Carolina
August 25th, 2010
10:07 pm
Jonathan, Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Take one day at a time. By all means, get that degree
Friend
August 25th, 2010
10:34 pm
It has been my pleasure to watch Jonathan grow into a remarkable young man. My son played on the same high school team as Jonathan did and I have seen his playing ability many times. Jonathan is truely a great player and I am deeply sad the good fans and folks from Georgia will not get to see him play. Jonathan will indeed make the best of his situation and has all the support and best wishes from all his friends at Susan Moore High School. Love you Jonathan and will be praying for you to make a speedy recovery from surgery.
Brian
August 25th, 2010
11:09 pm
Sorry to hear that Jonathan, I wish you the best in life.
GT BABY
August 25th, 2010
11:12 pm
…..
GT BABY
August 25th, 2010
11:15 pm
OH GOD, HERE WE GO…………LADYS AND GENTS……………….. GET READY FOR THE FIRST EXCUSE OF THE SEASON FOR THE G@YDAWGS! ONLY TIME WILL TELL HOW MANY WE’LL HEAR THIS YEAR. UMMMM……THAT REF BLEW THAT ONE CALL DURING THAT ONE GAME, YEEEAAAAAHH!!
GT BABY
August 25th, 2010
11:19 pm
ON A SERIOUS NOTE…..I HOPE HE GETS THE BEST MEDICAL ATTENTION AROUND. IM NOT GOING TO TALK SH!T ABOUT AN INJURED PLAYER, LIKE THAT ONE GEORGIA FAN ON OUR BLOG TALKING SH!T ABOUT ANT ALLEN GETTING HURT. IT’S TACKY!
GT BABY
August 25th, 2010
11:24 pm
LOOK AT HOW CLASSY TECH FANS ARE WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS? THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO SCHOOLS AND EVERYONE KNOWS IT.
rainbow
August 25th, 2010
11:42 pm
gt, you are a shining light a beacon of civility, don’t stop there, extrapolate your love to cover all peeps on the gridiron- regardless of faith, school, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.
Vick=Dog killing Thug
August 25th, 2010
11:58 pm
You know that Paul Johnson would cut him from the team. Tech is just like that…
RED DOG 77
August 26th, 2010
1:06 am
Tough break for the young man. I do however have a feeling Mr. Owens will make the best of his time in Athens, and earn a great education. I know personally how hard it is to train, play, dream, and finally learn that an injury has ended your playing days………..Young Mr. Owens stuck with it a lot longer than I did, he a red shirt soph, me a true fr. I had a back injury so bad that team Drs. said if I played again, I might just risk not walking again. The most painful thing in my life to that date was never being able to trot out on game day and feel that wonderful Sanford stadium sod under my feet. I did however continue my education, got my degree, married a wonderful woman, had two beautiful children………..and now own a very successful business. This is my hope for Jonathan Owens……….and I’m betting he will get there………..Good luck Jonathan, and God speed young man, RED
hunker down
August 26th, 2010
1:22 am
Mom
Things happen for a reason and I say that with no disrespect to your son Johnathan. I know in life sometimes I think something is terrible at the moment but in God’s grand scheme of things there is a purpose that opens a new path in life. God bless your son and you and wish him a speedy recovery. Go Dawgs!
Payne
August 26th, 2010
2:59 am
I wish you the best of luck Mr. Owens! GO DAWGS!
Jen
August 26th, 2010
4:22 am
Good luck in the future young man.
Listen to Richt, you could be a futue head coach someday.
Dream big…the World is yours.
RL Senior
August 26th, 2010
5:49 am
Jon, so sorry to hear about this. Was really looking forward to seeing more of you on the field…Keep your head up and keep working at your degree, and I am sure things will work out. Good luck with the surgery, see you in Athens….God Bless.
gator jimbob
August 26th, 2010
6:55 am
too sad. we all have to put aside our allegencies and just feel compassion for the young man. I am sure this happens all too often to atheletes, no matter who they play for. It is nigh time for the university system to provide an insurance policy which would compensate these young men for loss of potential/future income when they suffer a career ending injury. something to get them started towards a new career…
Gold Helmets
August 26th, 2010
7:24 am
I also wish Jonathan well. If you’ve ever been to a Tech or UGA football practice and watched the offensive linemen going through their drills, you realize those are the guys that work the hardest. They don’t get the glory like other positions. Like someone else said, UGA is a good school and he will get a great education.
I wish the AJC would police these blogs. The general public is able to type anything including obscene language.
Mike S
August 26th, 2010
8:09 am
For those wondering – a Medical Disqualification does not mean that Owens loses his scholarship. He keeps his scholarship as long as he meets all other requirements for grades/eligibility etc.
By medically disqualifying him it is best of both worlds for both parties – Owens keeps his Scholarship, but it does not count against the total of 85 for the football team.
Plus it sounds like he will be involved with the team in some capacity also, maybe as a manager of some type.
» SEC: Sources says South Carolina players got breaks John Clay’s Sidelines
August 26th, 2010
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[...] Georgia loses backup offensive lineman, reports Tim Tucker of the AJC. [...]
T3
August 26th, 2010
8:27 am
The REAL question is:
Will UGA let him keep his scholarship?
DawginLex
August 26th, 2010
8:30 am
Why do you care T3? This is a UGA blog. Go back to the bug blog unless you want to post something of some value.
Same with you yellow fuzzy boy.
Lou
August 26th, 2010
8:32 am
Good Luck for a speedy recovery,… Injuries are all part of the game..Same thing happened to me my senior year… Now they call me coach…
Joey
August 26th, 2010
8:42 am
Of course he keeps his scholarship – that’s the reason for the medical disqualification. His scholly won’t count toward UGA’s total now. But he’s still got it.
Dromio94
August 26th, 2010
9:49 am
Jonathan, I know this hurts big, for you, your family, your teammates, your coaches, your friends. Lots of fans out here (hey, I’m in France!) share your disappointment, and wish you well, beyond the gridiron, beyond college, through life. You’ve learned how to take the hits, now go for it, man. Blessings and good luck.
Dawg Fan in Louisiana Land
August 26th, 2010
10:11 am
All true football fans hate to see any athlete’s career ended by injury. Sounds like you have great support from your Mom and friends. Mark Richt is a stand-up guy and will provide UGA family support.
Good luck on your future path, Jon
ED
billdawg
August 26th, 2010
10:26 am
Thank you, GT Anchorage! Unfortunately GTBABY doesn’t get it. Both schools could do without the so-called “Sidewalk” alumni blowing off and proving to all who can read that they are really “Gutter” alumni.
Billdawg
I-DOG
August 26th, 2010
11:06 am
I am sure the young man is dissapointed. Best of luck Mr. Owens, I hope you have good memories of playing the one game ‘tween the hedges!
I-DOG
August 26th, 2010
11:10 am
GT Baby:
As Newman on Seinfeld said (UGA attendee by the way). You wouldn’t know delicate beauty if it bludgeoned you over the head with a shovel.
Rob
August 26th, 2010
11:39 am
Best of luck Jonathan. Thanks for being a Dawg. Speedy recovery and a successful life outside of football.
Kentucky DAWG
August 26th, 2010
12:17 pm
He will forever be a DAWG. Good luck to you.
DawgDad
August 26th, 2010
12:19 pm
I’m sure this is a major disappointment for Owens but it is hardly the end of the world for him. He’s no different now than any of the rest of us not capable of playing major college football, plus he’s got himself a scholarship to fund his education. Everyone encounters barriers and setbacks in life; he still has more opportunity and promise than most people are afforded. For his sake, I hope he can recognize this and move on without drowning in regrets. Best wishes.
UGA84
August 26th, 2010
1:29 pm
To GTAnchorage, thanks for the nice comment, you represent your school well. Also, would you PLEASE send some cold air down here! We’re “melting”.